The year that changed its mind —1936
Neil Mach SpeakerNet Sponsor
- Region:
- South East
- Notice Period:
- Emergency (maybe less than one week's notice)
- Type:
- author and social historian
- Fee:
- Expensed: Speaker would appreciate £20 towards his travel expenses
- Category:
- History
- Updated:
- 9th December 2025
- Tagged:
- 1936 | Abdication Crisis | Community History | Edward Viii
1936 was a remarkable year due to the major political shifts that changed world history and produced long-lasting effects that still haunt us ninety-years later.
Major events included the Spanish Civil War, Mussolini’s invasion of Ethiopia, Hitler’s remilitarization of the Rhineland, and the UK’s Abdication Crisis.
1936 was the year of Nazi propaganda at the Berlin Olympics, Jesse Owens’ track triumph, and technical advances such as the Hindenburg’s first commercial transatlantic passage, the launch of the prototype Volkswagen Beetle 'people's car', the Spitfire’s first flight, Alan Turing’s first computer, and the distribution of the K6 red telephone box across Britain.
Culturally, 1936 saw the ‘demise’ of Charlie Chaplin’s iconic ‘Little Tramp’ character as the good-hearted vagrant struggles to survive in “Modern Times” and he becomes stressed at work, turns to drugs, is arrested as a communist, and shacks-up with a nightclub dancer. In the end, Chaplin’s Little Tramp walks into an uncertain future.
The year also saw the rise of lavish musical extravaganzas, with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers’ vehicle ‘Swing Time’ (that included the songs “A Fine Romance” and the Academy Award-winning “The Way You Look To-night”) leading the way, but also introducing 'The Great Ziegfeld', and the film adaption of Oscar Hammerstein’s “Show Boat” that included Paul Robeson’s famed show tune “Ol’ Man River”.
If you'd like to learn more about the year that Birdseye introduced frozen foods, Mackintosh first produced their Quality Street, Crystal Palace burned to the ground, George Formby sang 'When I'm Cleaning Windows', and Amy Johnson made her last record-breaking flight, then you'll enjoy this easy-going — relaxed yet informative — slideshow presentation.
Views: 7 | Enquiries: 0About Neil Mach
Neil Mach is considered highly skilled in the art of public speaking.
It doesn’t matter how big or small your audience is! The author has delivered speeches to audiences of various sizes and ages, ranging from theatres to living rooms, and from care homes to first schools.
Neil has given his entertaining slideshow presentations to community groups, Probus clubs, W.I. meetings, U3A groups, care homes, schools, colleges, and other neighbourhood associations big-and-small.
With over 20 books written, Neil is not only a published ethical author but also a multi-time NaNoWriMo champion. He describes himself as a ‘hippy grandad!’’
His home is located in Surrey, England, by the River Thames but he's willing to travel in the South-East and Thames Valley and has given slideshow talks in Leicester, Birmingham, South Kent, and North Bedfordshire.
In his popular 'penniless writer series' he guides new writers in ways they can achieve their writing ambitions with minimal outlay.
After retiring from public service, Neil became an internationally recognized author/journalist in the music industry. He founded the ‘Rock Pen’ school to nurture aspiring music writers and has made valuable contributions to various esteemed publications, newsletters, and blogs.
During 2021, he curated an exhibition that was highly acclaimed and delivered a talk on the ‘Coronation Charts’, which marked the beginning of pop charts in British music history.
In 2024, he arranged a temporary exhibition focused on Led Zeppelin in 1969. He later conducted presentations on the same subject.
Neil makes regular appearances on TV and is a frequent guest on radio and podcasts.
Don’t miss Neil’s fascinating 45–60 minute illustrated talk exploring the question, “What is Fantasy Fiction?” In this entertaining talk, the author explores the “need” for fantasy creation in humans and explains the fundamental definitions of the genre. He delves into questions like: What makes up the key element of fantasy? What is fantasy fiction? What is liminality? What is a liminoid experience? What’s the difference between myth and fairytale? What is the definition of magical? What is the difference between high fantasy and low fantasy?
If you need him quickly the speaker is often available at short (less than a week) notice.
The author is aware of the financial constraints of small community groups and associations, so he offers his illustrated talks for free, but he'd appreciate a reasonable contribution towards his travel expenses.
Neil brings mementos, artifacts, and ephemera with him to aid in triggering audience memories. He also provides his own equipment.
+++++++++++++++++++++++ Links:
https://www.facebook.com/author.neilmach
https://www.neilmachauthor.com/
+++++++++++++++++++++++
Significant podcast episodes:
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/josiane-fortin7/episodes/80-Where-Fantasy-Authors-Ought-to-Begin-e1igc4n/a-a2ks2ah
https://www.spreaker.com/user/tomreaoch/neil-mach-author-so-you-want-to-write-fa
TV appearances:
The Repossible Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fStjDjkV9M&t=114s&pp=ygUJbmVpbCBtYWNo
The Self Publishing Queen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMmaTR7SSZ0&t=16s&pp=ygUJbmVpbCBtYWNo
Other Talks on SpeakerNet by Neil Mach
- What is Fantasy Fiction? - with English fantasy author Neil Mach
- Rocking Surrey: History of Suburban Rock and Roll with music journalist Neil Mach
- The Fiction of Romani Culture: Exploring the way Gypsy people are depicted in literature
- Reflecting on 1969: Britain Thrusts into the Space Age
- How to get a book started: How to Write Your First Book with author Neil Mach
- Surrey Farmland Girls - Triumph on the Land: the story of the Women's Land Army
- Clickety click - life in ‘66: the year that Britain became the envy of the world
- Standpipes and Sex Pistols: Remembering the long hot summer of '76
- The penniless writer series: why you should start writing your book today.
- How we lived on the brink... Life in Britain during the Cold War 1957-1967
- The penniless writer series : how you can publish your book on a shoestring
- What is Steampunk fiction?
- The penniless writer series: how to increase sales by positioning your book for free
- The Only Way Is Up : How 1988 shaped the contours of world history
Send a message to the speaker
If you are interested in this talk and wish to contact the speaker, please complete the following form: